Coursework Specification Introduction Purpose and operational details This coursework contributes 50% of the final marks for the module. Check the grading / assessment sheet (see last page) for how marks will be allocated. Work on your own for all parts of the work. You are encouraged to discuss the meaning of the tasks with other students, but the content of your answers must be your own original and individual work. You will need access to the library, Internet, the module blackboard site and other resources such as journals, textbooks et.. Quotations and referencing Your main report should have a bibliography and reference section in a recognised academic style (e.g. Harvard referencing). List all sources, including ideas and suggestions taken from others. All words, diagrams, etc. taken from another source must be properly marked in the text and listed in the references. See the DMU library site for further guidance. What to submit Research question and Methodology (20% of coursework, 10% of module mark): • Hand in maximum of three A4 pages – hard copy to Advice Centre, electronic copy via Turnitin. Management report (80% of coursework, 40% of module mark): • Hand in maximum of 2500 word report (in the case of a practical realisation, such as a system design, the expectation word count will be significantly less than this) – hard copy to Advice Centre, electronic copy via Turnitin. Blank grading sheet – hard copy via the Advice Centre marked clearly with your name. Deadline All submissions close on Friday the 23th of May at 11.00 and must be handed in to FOTAC before 11.00 If you have a valid reason for late submission, apply to me before the deadline. Appropriate 3rd party written evidence must be provided in support of all such requests. Return and feedback Summative feedback and provisional grades normally within four weeks of submission (annotated copy of report returned with grading/assessment sheet. These should be available for collection from the Student Advice Centre around the end of June. You will be emailed via Blackboard when these are available. Plagiarism Any attempt to obtain a pass by unfair means is very serious. All reports will be checked using plagiarism detection software. Cases of copying the work of another student or supplying solutions to fellow students will normally result in a fail grade of zero marks for the assignment. Any other use of unacknowledged material will be dealt with as appropriate. Formal disciplinary action, as in the University Regulations, may be taken against plagiarists. The disciplinary panel has the power to inflict serious penalties including expulsion from the course. Viruses and backup Make sure you are protected as far as possible against virus attack or other possible loss by retaining two backup copies of your work. In particular, please ensure that the disk or email that you submit is free of viruses. Detailed specification of work 1. An original question about e-business that would be worth further research (20% of total). • This section is concerned only with defining the problem/.question. • Include a short paragraph that explains why it is interesting and a page of plan / research method that shows how your question could be answered. • Your idea can be interesting for its own sake – pure research. Or it might be useful to a specified organisation – applied research. 2. A report to a senior manager of a real organisation on one of the following (80% of total). Or propose a topic of your own, this may include undertaking a full research study in your original question in 1 above – but get my approval for it before you start work. Clearly identify which option you are answering. Outline Marking Scheme To help you pick a topic suitable for the coursework, first, consider choosing a scenario type from the options below: a. Analysis and critical evaluation of current e-business strategy and activities. (There must already be some significant e-business activity.) • You decide how to carry out the appraisal, using your own selection or those techniques taught on the module. b. Proposal and justification for a systems architecture to support e-business. (The organisation must have little or no significant e-business activity now). • Summarise the applications that are needed. • Outline their interfaces with each other, and any necessary standards. • Explain how the applications differ from current systems. • Identify the benefits and how they will be measured. c. A migration plan to develop e-business capability from scratch. (The organisation must have little or no significant e-business activity now.) • Identify impacts on the organisation and changes to infrastructure. • Identify major benefits, with suggestions for how to measure them. • Identify major risks, with strategies to avoid or minimise them. d. High level design for a completely new e-business application. (Must be relevant to the needs of the organisation and not closely based on any existing system.) • Explain the need and justify the design decisions in a brief report. • Design to include systems architecture, functional requirements, technical interface requirements, data storage requirements and sample user interfaces. • May consist mainly of diagrams and models. e. Proposal and justification for an e-business strategy. (The organisation must have little or no significant e-business activity now.) • Outline the strategy and summarise the main changes expected in the organisation. • Implementation plan should show how the changes will be achieved. • Identify the benefits and explain how they can be measured. Once you have made your choice of topic type, progress to the report, which will contain the following two sections, addressing the specified components in the marking scheme. 1. Research questions will be marked mainly for:- • Originality and interest of the question. • Feasibility of the outline plan / research methodology. 2. The research or management report will be marked for its:- • Factual basis. • Overall coherence. • Analytical depth, logical argument, critical questioning of others (including published sources). • Originality of thought, synthesis, new ideas and insights. More detailed marking criteria are shown on the grading/feedback sheet (see next page). Original Question - Example topic Brexit and E commerce. To what extent is Brexit likely to impact on the legal and or security e commerce aspects for SME businesses. Coursework Grading Sheet 2014/2015 (Marking Scheme) Student Name Overall mark: Criteria Relative Weight Fail/Refer F/D- < 40% Marginal Fail D, D+ 40 – 49% Average to Good C-, C, C+ 50 – 59% Very Good B-,B, B+ 60 – 69% Excellent A-, A, A+ 70 – 99% Research Question. 10% No question or completely unoriginal. Value of question is not fully clear Interesting question, Good question Profound question, goes well beyond the obvious Research Method/plan 10% No research method or plan Simplistic outline of how to proceed Suitable methodology / plan perhaps lacking some details Good methodology / plan Comprehensive methodology / plan described Report (80%) Critical Analysis 30% Little or no critical analysis Some critical evaluation but limited practical use. Useful critique that successfully weighs some relevant evidence. Good rounded analysis gives a sound basis for the report’s conclusions. Thoroughly professional critique gives real confidence in the author’s authority. Practical Relevance, Creativity, Insight 20% Should not be shown to the business Ideas have some value, but significant work still needed. Would be useful, and ideas are well-grounded but not really new. Practical ideas and good insight. Could be of significant value. Creative insight could well produce excellent results for the organisation. Factual Basis (includes research content) 20% No useful research is presented Some limited basis in fact; some references are of questionable value. Some method is apparent and background research is mainly relevant. Well-focused research of significant value to the organisation. Professional quality of research. Follows appropriate method, and is both comprehensive and relevant. General coherence, quality of writing, referencing 10% Not acceptable as a professional document. Acceptable but needs a lot of work. Generally good but quality not fully consistent. Good clear structure, presentation, language and referencing. Excellent in almost every way. Thoroughly professional and convincing document. Comments: